
MARGARE 




Class ^vS'j^J 

Book . r^d-ijs 



COFYRIGHT DEPOSHV 




A Charleston Ground-nut Woman. 



DARKEY WAYS IN 
DIXIE 




THE 



Bbbcy press 



Xon^on 



PUBLISHERS 

114 

FIFTH AVENUE 

NEW YORK 



jflRontrcal 



THF ' ISRARY OF 

OCNGRESS, 
Two ©OH* Reccive^ 

APR. 4 19Q2 

OOPVWIHT SHThY 

CLAS* <^XXft No. 
COPY 13. 






.J^ 



9^ I 



Copyright, 1901. 

by 

THE 






CONTENTS. 



PAGE 

5 



Mammy's Baby Chile • 

Playin' Craps " '^ 

The Washerwoman's Song ^ 

A Seller ob Ole Clo'es H 

A Well-Cleaner's Revery 13 

Song of the Huckster 15 

By-en-By 18 

In Season ob Mistletoe 21 

Christmas Gif 24 

Sriow in the South 26 

Aunty's Affliction 28 

The Difference 30 

Blackberry Time 32 

Dat Je vv's-Harp 33 

Wid his Feet 35 

The Broken Banjo 37 

When Dey Sing 39 

At de Meetin' 41 

A Philosopher 46 

Des de Same 49 

So de Sunshine Stay 50 

Daddy Long Legs 51 

3 



4 Contents. 

PAGE 

His Capacity Filled 52 

Ike's Temptation 54 

Whar de Waterniilyun Grow 57 

What his Education Done 59 

Booker T. Washington G2 

Crazy Joe's Ambition 65 

Grinnin' Jake 67 

Elmiry Vaccinated 69 

Simple Simon 72 

An Obstacle Overcome 73 

Two of a Kind 75 

Quarantined 77 

A Puzzling Clause 79 

'Fo'edeWah 80 

Groun'-Hog Day 85 

Excusable 87 

Jeff's Fun'ral Sermon 88 

Uncle Bob to his Dog 90 

A Prophecy 92 

'Possum en Pertatoes 93 

Cotton's Comin' In 96 

Dat Yaller Gal 97 

Ter Walk wid his Gal 101 

Cunjud 103 

Uncle Ben's Superstition 104 

Wid de Witches IOC 

A Restless Spirit 108 

Pardoned Ill 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



PAGE 

A Charleston Ground-Nut Woman - Frontispiece " 

" I rub en I rub "----.--lo 
"Vegtibler" ---_--__ ig^' 
' En he drive a ox so slow - - - - - 18 \/^ 

The Boot-Black 32 ■/ 

The Wood-Sawyer - - - - - - -46 

Grinnin' Jake --_____ gg 

' How de News git roun dem posts " - - - 74 
"On de Chain Gang" - - - - - no "' 



DARKEY WAYS II DIXIE, 



Hush, now hush, do' cry no mo' 
Kaze yo' daddy had ter go 
In de massa's fxel' ter hoe, 

Mammy's baby chile. 

He gwine come back, dat you'll see, 
Kaze he b'long ter you en me, 
En he'll jog- you on his knee, 
Mammy's baby chile. 

Hush, den hush, do' cry no mo' ! 
Set dar quiet on de flo' 
While I wash de clo'es, you know, 
Mammy's baby chile. 

When de cotton season come. 
Me en you won' stay at home, 

5 



Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

Kaze yo' mammy gwine pick some, 
Mammy's baby chile. 

You kin set in de sunshine 
On de cotton, sof en fine, 
Lis'nin' ter de moanin' pine, 
Mammy's baby chile. 

When we done, at en' ob day, 
En come home (heah what I say !) 
Daddy '11 ride you all de way, 
Mammy's baby chile. 

Hush^ den hush, do' cry no mo' 
Kaze yo' daddy had ter go 
In de massa's fiel' ter hoe. 

Mammy's baby chile. 



Playin' Craps. 



What you git dat nickel change 

Up in coppers fo'. 
What de preacher gib ter you 
Las' nio["ht 'f o'e he o^o ? 

Bet you soon be wid dem chaps 
Roun' de corner playin' craps. 

What you say ? You done bin dar ? 

Is you, nigger, sho ? 
Den de Black Maria git you 
Sho's de pleeceman know 
'Bout dem dirty little chaps 
Roun' de corner playin' craps. 

What you gwine make up ter tell 

Preacher Jones, Eli, 
When he as' you 'bout dat nickel — 
When, en how, en why ? 

Dat you los' it ter dem chaps 
Roun' de corner playin' craps ? 



Darkey Wa\'s in Dixie. 

Neber los' it ? Well, I say ! 

Why you talk so slow ? 
Bring dat money out ter sight^ 
So I slio kin know 

If you 'scape clem cunnin' chaps 
Roun' cle corner playin' craps. 

Thirteen ob clem ! Thirteen coppers, 

Sho ez I'm erlive ! 
Han' clem ebry one to me — 
Scusin ob des five ; — 

En you stay 'way fium them chaps 
Roun' de corner playin' craps ! 



Tlie Washerwoman's Song. 



CJje 3^a^f)ertD0matt'^ .Song. 

Oh, I rub en I rub 

All day in de tub ! 
I went fo' dese elo'es 'fo'e de clock strike 

eight, 
En I rubbin' on dem in de evenin' late. 

I rub en I rub 

All day in de tub. 

Oh, I rub en I rub 

All day in de tub ! 
I soap all de pieces in places erbout, 
En I scrub till I git all de dinginess out. 

I rub en I rub 

All day in de tub. 

Oh, I rub en I rub 
All day in de tub ! 
Sho ez de good Missus pay me fo' dese 



10 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

I gwine treat you chillun ter crackers en 
cheese. 
Ain't you glad I kin rub 
All day in de tub ? 



A Seller Ob Ole Clo'es. ii 



a delict <Bb <&U €Wt^. 

Dese am pretty clo'es, fo' true, 
Ell I'll sell 'em quick fo' you, 

Dat I will ! 
Dey does look des lak you. Miss, 
Ell I feel dat I could kiss 

Ebry frill. 

Dis lieali flower on dis hat — 
Lan' ! My heart do cry fo' dat — 

It so sweet ! 
I would slioly lak ter go 
Wid it on my head, des so, 

Down de street. 

" Buy it, den, yo'se'f," you say ? 
Now, you know dat I cain't j^ay 

Fo' dat hat ! 
Sellin' clo'es ain't made me rich, 
But my head do sholy itch 

To weah dat. 



12 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

If dem niggers come en pay 
AUers fo' de clo'es dey say 

Dey gwine git, 
I would hab de change ter buy 
Somethin' when my heart do cry 

So fo' it. 

Ten cents on de dollar, Miss, 
Won' buy soon a hat lak dis, 

Dat am sho ; 
En dis nifvo^er hab ter eat — 
Hab ter buy some bread en meat, 

Ez you know. 

Well, good-day ! Dese pretty clo'es, 
Wid dey laces en dey bows, 

Soon be gone ; 
Kaze dem gals, when dey heah tell 
Dat I got yo' clo'es ter sell, 

Sho gwine run. 



The Well-Cleaner's Revery. 13 



• €f)e Wtih€ltantv'$ iSebctp. 

Me en Tom bin clean in' wells 

Long time, slio ; 
En we'll clean 'em till God tells 

Us ter go 
Up dar wliar de sliinin' stream, 

Pu' en SAveet, 
Flow frne heaven, lak a dream^, 

At onr feet. 

En I min' me how us two, 

Ez time pass, 
Work togedder good, fo' true, 

Fus' en las' ; 
One stay up en one go down, 

En bofe know 
Dey mus' fill dey phice, I boun', 

High or low. 

When Tom turn de win'lass roun', 
En I go 



14 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

Fur down underneath de groun'. 

Dark en low, 
I trus' allers dat he gwine 

Draw me out 
Ter de place whar de sun shine 

All erbout. 

En I b'lieve dat if a man 

Fall in sin, 
We mus' \if him, if we kin, 

Up ag'in ; 
Kaze he need de he'pin' han', 

Dat am sho, 
If all safe he rise en stan' 

Any mo'. 

God done take dis simple way 

Ter show me 
Dat while in de worl' we stay 

We must be 
'Pendent on each other, sho, 

Till we rise 
Frum de dang'rous deeps below 

Ter de skies. 



Song Of the Huckster. 15 



I DON* ride erlonof de street 
Wid my mouth shet tight, 

Kaze I know I got ter sing, 
Lak a singer right, 

If I make dis pile ob goods 
Dwindle frum de sight : 

" Tomatoes en okra 

Passin' right hy ! 
Beans en pertatoes — 

De prices ain't high ! 
Apples en peaches, 

De fines' ter-day ! 
Oh, come out en buy 

'Fo'e dey all git away- 
Come out en buy ! " 

All de white men down de street 
Wantin' me, fo' sho, 



1 6 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

Des to drive en sell fo' dem, 

Kaze dey say dey know 
I git rid ob all my truck, 

Singin' ez I go : 

" Tomatoes en okra 

Passin' right by ! 
Beans en pertatoes — 

De prices ain't high ! 
Apples en peaches, 

De fines' ter-day ! 
Oh, come out en buy 

'Fo'e dey all git away — 
Come out en buy ! " 

Once de preacher what hoi' fo'th 

Fo' de Methodis', 
Say : '' Oh, man, I b'l'eve dat you 

Done yo' callin' miss ! 
Why'n't you use dat voice ter preach 

'Stead ob shoutin' dis : 

" ^ Tomatoes en okra 

Passin' right by ! 
Beans en pertatoes — 




" Vegtibles.' 



Song Ob the Huckster. 17 

De prices ain't high ! 
Apples en peaches, 

De lines' ter-day ! 
Oh, come out en buy 
' 'Fo'e tley all git away — 

Come out en buy ! ' " 

En I lauofh en tell liim dat 

Dis town full ter-day 
Ob line men, des lak hisse'f. 

What kin preach en pray ; 
But dey ain't but one dat go 

Singin' 'long dis way : 

" Tomatoes en okra 

Passin' riolit bv ! 
Beans en pertatoes — 

De prices ain't high ! 
Apples en peaches, 

De fines' ter-day ! 
Oh, come out en buy 

'Fo'e dey all git away — 
Come out en buy ! " 



i8 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 



25p en 2&p. 

Uncle Reuben, ole en good, 
Come ter town wid nice fat wood 
Frum de san' hills fur away — 
'Mos' eleben miles, dey say. 
En he drive a ox so slow, 
En a cart dat wobble so, 
Dat it look lak dey gwine fall. 
En ole Uncle gwine lose all. 

By en by, by en by. 

Uncle got dat wood dervide. 
En in hones' bundles tied. 
En he holler 'cross de fence : 
" Three bio- bunches f o' ten cents ! 
Buy some, Missus, please, frum me, 
Kaze I need de change, you see ; 
En I mus' go down de street 
Ter git me some meal en meat. 
By en by, by en by. 





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By En By. 19 

Missus say she don' want none ; 
What he brought befo' ain't gone ; 
En ole Uncle pass on by, 
Still wicl courage in his eye ; 
• En he doan' lose heart dat day, 
But wid smilin' face he say : 
" I ain't bin all 'roun' de town — 
I gwine sell it, I am boun'. 

By en by, by en by." 

En he sell it all, fo' true, 
Ez he said dat he would do ! 
When at las' he go down street, 
He buy mo' dan meal en meat, 
Kaze he lak terbacco, too. 
Well ez any nigger do ; 
En he say : " I'll 'joy it, sho, 
Ez erlong de road I go, 

By en by, by en by. 

When he 'bout ter leave de town 
Ez de sun am gwine down. 
Us black niggers laugh en say : 
" Bet you won't git home ter-day 
Wid dat ox, so ole en slow. 



20 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

En dat cart dat wobble so ! " 
En he bow his head en say : 
'' I gwine git dar, anyway, 

By en by, by en by." 

Uncle Reuben's o^ittm' ole — 
He's pas' sixty, I'se bin tole ; 
En his ban' slio shake ter-day 
In a weak en triniblin' way ; 
En his ole legs wobbled too, 
Lak de wheels ob his cart do, 
Ez lie say : '' De en' soon come, 
Kaze de Lawd gwine call me home, 
By en by, by en by." 



In Season Ob Mistletoe. 21 



'3^n J^ca^on #6 ^er^i^tletoe. 

Dat Sambo ain't got good sense ; 

Work agin liisse'f for sho ; 
'Tain't no parable I'm tellin', 
'Tis de triif, en dat am so. 
He wus 'ployed by Missus Johnsing 
Ter run erran's en bring wood ; — 
Ter do anything, in fac', 

Roun' de place a nigger could ; 
En Sambo, he done right well 
Till de boys begin ter sell 

Bunches ob de mistletoe. 

'Twus de Chris'mas time ercomin', 

En it tingled in his blood, 
Till he couldn't stick ter sawin' 

En ter choppin' ob de wood ; 
En he couldn't heah de Missus 

When she say : " Be smart, Sambo ! 
Kaze de soun' ob dem boys callin' 



22 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

In (le street wus all he know ; 
En a nigg'er stop en say : 
" We is lucky, slio, ter-clay ; 
We des sells de mistletoe ! " 

Sambo didn't stop ter say : 

" 'Sense me, Missus, I mus' go ! " 
Do his po' ole mammy teach him 
Better manners, dat you know. 
He des leave dat yard en dim' 

Up de neares' ole oak tree, 
A\ har de mistletoe wus growin' 
Fresh en green ez it could be ; 
En he jine dem boys dat cry : 
" Mistletoe er passin' by ! 

Don' you w^ant some mistletoe ? " 

En he sell it mighty good — 

He des scoop de nickles in ! 
Seem de Lawd wus blessin' him 

In his foolishness en sin. 
Dar de Missus wus er needin' 

Him ter chop en bring in wood, 
En he orter gone en done it — 

Kaze she sho bin mighty good, 



In Season Ob Mistletoe. 23 

But he strut erlong de street, 
Horriii' out : " It's hard to beat 
Dis fine bunch ob mistletoe ! " 

But de jedgment come at las', 

Ez it boun' ter come, fo' slio, 
When a nigger work agin 

His ownse'f, lak dat Sambo. 
When de holidays wus pas' 

Missus say dat she don' need 
Him to work no mo' fo' her, 
Kaze she got some one instead. 
En dat boy got sense ter know 
White folks don' buy mistletoe 
When de season am done pas' 1 



24 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 



I GO ti[)-toe down de alley 

Ter de Missus' kitchen do', 
Kaze I know she got some Chris'mas 
Somewhar fo' dis darkey, sho ; 
She don' spec' me roun' dat way, 
En I s'prise her when I say : 

" Chris'mas gif ' ! " 

Den she turn roun', des er laughin'. 

En she say : " De same ter you ! 
Is you got a present f o' me ? 
Kaze I want one — I sho do ! " 
" You's des foolin'," den I say ; 
" 'Sides I hollered fus dis day : 
' Chris'mas gif ! ' " 

Den she git a big bandanna — 

One wid po'ka dots ob red. 
En she say : " Ez you done ketch me, 



Chns'mas Gif ! 



25 



You kill Iiab dis £0' yo' head." 
So I slio am glad dis day 
Dat I wus de fiis ter say : 

'' Chris'inas ^if I " 



26 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 



Dis mornin' when I went ter po' 
Water out my cabin do', 
I wus slio surprised ter see, 
While de darkness all roun* me, 
Snow wus des er fallin' down 
Till it civered all de groun'. 

Bin des 'bout two yeahs or mo' 

Sence I seed a flake ob snow ; 

En I call to Mandy : " Say ! 

Heah's a sight, fo' sho, ter-day ! 

Yestiday was lak de spring ; 

Look what des one night done bring.' 

En she come en poke her head 
Out from under dat ole shed ; 
En she say : " When you go down 
Ter de Massa's in de town. 
You mus' civer up yo' back 
Wid a nice warm crocus sack." 



Snow in the South. 27 

Ell she say : " Yo' shoes am ole ; 
Sho (ley clays am neahly tole." 
En she wrap 'em, fo'th en back, 
Wid dem hits oh crocus sack, 
Till you hardly see my feet 
When I walk erlong de street. 

Massa p'int ter dem en say : 
" Wouldn't dress up dat erway! 
Why'n't you git some rubber shoes ? 
You could buy 'em if you choose." 
But I won't ! Kaze don't I know 
Soon de sun gwine drink dat snow? 



28 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 



How is I (lis morniii', Miss ? 

Po'lj, dat am true ! 
In de night-time I don' sleep 

Lak I orter do, 
Kaze I got de miz'ry bad 

In me, up en doAvn, 
En some day, fo' sho, it gwine 

Fetch me ter de groun'. 

Oh, I's full ob trouble. Miss !— 

Full ez I kin be. 
Ain't you got some liniment 

You kin gib ter me ? 
I is 'bleeged ter git some lie'p 

Somewhar, dat am sho. 
Else dis miz'ry in de j'ints 

Soon gwine lay me low. 

Oh, I thank you, thank you. Miss ! 
God will bless you, sho. 



Aunty's Affliction. 29 

All de goodness ob yo' heart 

He mus' sholey know ; 
En he'll pay you when at las' 

He done lay me down ; — 
When dis pain en miz'ry done 

Fetch me ter de grouu\ 



30 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 



€l)e aoifference* 

If de white man am a sinner 
He go walkin', walkin' free, 

But de nigger Ian', fo' sho, 
In de penitentiary. 

Now dat Simeon steal some cotton 

(Cunjud by de evil one) 
En dey sen' him ter de prison 

Fo' de wrong dat he am done. 

Fo' three yeahs he done bin workin 

In de penitentiary, 
En he got ter stay dar longer 

Frum de chillun en f rum me. 

Dat rich farmer git de cotton — 
Ebry poun' ob it — ag'in. 

But dey keep dat Simeon lock up 
Lak he done an awful sin. 



The Difference. 31 

If de white man am a sinner 
He go walkin', walkin' free, 

But de nio^o^er slio o^wine Ian* 
In de penitentiary. 



32 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 



2Macfc6errp €tme» 

Missus, please write me a letter back home, 
En tell 'em I say dat I want 'em ter come 
At blackberry time in June. 

My little ole cabin won't liol' any mo', 
But nobody freeze in de yard, dat am sho, 
At blackberry time in June. 

Tell 'em I lonesome. I sLoly will die 
If dey don' come to he'p me eat blackberry 
pie 
At blackberry time in June. 

Dis nigger am po', but dar's plenty to eat 
When de fruit ebrywhar hangin' juicy en 
sweet 
At blackberry time in June. 

So, Missus, please write me a letter back 

home. 
En tell 'em I say dat I want 'em ter come 
At blackberry time in June. 




THE BOOT-BLACK. 

" \o, sah ree ! 

You do'n' ketch me 
Shinin' yo" shoes fo* de ha'f ob a dime; 

Dis nigger belong 

Ter de union strong, 
En he charge you de full price ebry time. 



Dat Jew's Harp. 33 



I DOES try ter fetch up Jim 

So de white folks respec' him ; 
But in spite oh all I say 
He cles set out clar all day 
On de hack do' step, en play 
Dat Jew's harp. 

De fus joh he git ter do, 

I wus glad, it sho am true ; 

But he come home, sleek en sly, 
Wid de sunshine in his eye, 
Soon's he git enough ter buy 
Dat Jew's harp. 

" You black nigger, you ! " I say, 
" Whar yo' senses gone ter-day ? 

Don't you know when niggers eat 
Dey mus' 'arn dey bread en meat ? " 
But he des play, sof en sweet, 

Dat Jew's harp. 
3 



34 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

When I tell ole Missus once 
Jim wus cles a lazy dunce, 

She say : " Hush ! Don' talk dat way ; 

He's a ginious, I dare say, 

En de muses bid him play 
Dat Jew's harp." 

Pshaw ! De ginious en de muses ! 

What's de use ob dem ixcuses? 
If I hab ter flog dat Jim 
Wid a great big hick'ry lim', 
Bet he'll frow away f rum him 
Dat Jew's harp ! 



Wid His Feet. 35 



m^ I^i^ feet. 

AVhen I git down my banjo 
Des to pick a tune or so, 
Tobin 'gin ter pat cle flo' 
Wid his feet. 

He don't neber heah me play 
In de night-time or de day, 
But he sho gwine ac' dat way 
Wid his feet. 

En he pat, now fas', now slow ;■ 
Easy now, den loud, he go, 
Keepin' time ter my banjo 
Wid his feet. 

En who ever heah dat coon 
Allers say, en dat right soon : 
" He kin play a purty tune 
Wid his feet." 



^6 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

He kin make mo' music, sho, 
Dan I kin wid my banjo 
A\ hen he pat de cabin flo' 
Wid his feet. 



De Broken Banjo. 37 



2Dc 2&tofecn 25aniD. 

In dis little ole log cabin 

Whar cle gray moss hang in sight ; 
Whar cle screech-owl make me trimble 

In de middle ob de night ; 
Dar at ebenin' you gwine fin' me, 

If you look fo' me at all, 
Wid my Fido settin' by me, 

En my banjo on de wall. 

Once, when de long day wus finish, 

'Fo'e ter res' me I done go, 
I would set out on de do' step 

Pickin' sof my ole banjo, 
Singin' " Dixie," " Swanee Riber/' 

" Annie Laurie," en dem all ; — 
But my banjo am done broken. 

En am hangin' on de wall. 

So I set heah dreamin', dreamin', 
Ob de time dat use ter be 



38 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

'Fo'e my Dinah went to heaben- 
Dinah she wus lovin' me ! 

En if she had neber leF me 
I would neber weep at all, 

En I would not miss de music 
Ob de banjo on de wall. 



When They Sing. 39 



Wi^tn €l)ep J^ing. 

When dom darkies sing togedder 

'F0V1 de houses in de street, 
People passin' stop en hs'n 

Ez dey say : " Now, ain't dat sweet ? 
All dem niggers got good voices. 

En dey sho kin keep good time ; 
I would rutlier lieah dem singin' 

Dan de bells ob Michael chime." 

When dem darkies sing togedder 

Wid de Jew's harp en banjo ; 
Wid dem tamb'rine bells a-ringin' 

En dem bottles dat dey blow, 
Oh, it sho do seem lak music 

Ob de holy angel ban'. 
En I feel lak shoutin' : " Glory ! 

Take me ter de Canaan Ian'." 

When dem darkies sing togedder, 
Dey kin make you laugh or cry ; 



40 Darkey Wa\'s in Dixi . 

Oh, dey kin, fo' joy or sorrow, 
Bring de tear-drop ter yo' eye ! 

Dey kin make you stan' dar quiet, 
Lis'nin' ter de singin' sweet. 

Or kin liab you dancin', dancin', 
Long ez you kin lif yo' feet. 

When dem darkies sing togedder. 

White folks frow some shinin' dimes 
Out de winder. My, en den 

Don't dey hab some happy times? 
Den de people what wus lis'nin' 

Say dey mus' be gwine home ; 
Say dey sorry dat de singin' 

Stop mos' soon ez dey had come. 



At De Meetin'. 41 



3lt 2De J¥teetm\ 

Oh, now, Missus, was I 'sleep ? 

I is sorry, sho ! 
I des set down heali ter res' 

Wid my head down, so. 
En I meant to pray fo' grace 

Des a little bit, 
Kaze I got a sinnin' soul, 

En I 'knowledge it. 

Yes, I knows you pays me well 

Fo' de work I do. 
En I orter stick ter it 

So dat I please you. 
But I couldn't he'p it. Miss, 

If I sliet my eyes ; 
God done made dem wid dese hinges, 

En He sho am wise. 

Why'n't I sleep at night, you as' ? 
Missus, you don't know 



Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

How dem voices call en call, 

Till I hab ter go. 
En when once I git in church, 

Dar I sho gwine stay 
Till de stars am gittin' pale 

'Fo'e de light ob day. 

Dar's a nieetin' gwine on 

Wid de Baptis' now, 
En do I ain't jine dat church, 

I kin go, I 'low ; 
Dey don't shet de do' on me 

'Cept when dey commune, 
En it won't be time fo' dat, 

So dey say, right soon. 

My, dey hab a whoopin' time 

Roun' dar eb'ry night. 
En dat preacher sho kin put 

Down de law des right ; 
En he preach de holy word 

Till dem niggers shout, — 
Till dey leab dey seats at las', 

Dancin' all erbout. 



At De Meetin'. 43 

Anthea Allen got religion 

Roun' dar las' night, slio, 
En she clap her han's en waltz 

Up en down de flo', 
Singm' ^^' Glory! Hallelnjah ! 

I is on de way ! 
Angels peep in' down frnni heaven 

Beckon me ter-day." 

Den she fall doAvn in a trance, 

Right dar on de flo', 
En dem darkies po' de camphor 

Onto her, fo' sho ; 
Bnt she don't wake np at all — 

Lak de dead she lay. 
En we lef her lyin' dar 

When we come away. 

Dey sho take a big collection 

At dat church las' night, 
En dat money on de table 

Sho wus shinin' bright. 
En de preacher in de pulpit 

Stan' up straight en say : 



44 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

" Dem dat am not got a cent — 
Dey kin go away ! " 

En lie say : " Come up en bring 

Money ter de Lawd ! 
Dat He love de chee'ful giver, 

He say in His word ; 
Wliat you gib ter Him ter-night 

Am not f rowed away, 
Kaze de bread cas' on de sea 

Gwine come back some day." 

En dem nio^crers make a noise 

Passin' up en down, 
Some wid coppers, some wid nickels, 

Some wid dimes, I'm boun' ; 
En dey make de music ring, 

Wbile de preacher say : 
" Oh, I lak ter see de money 

Comin' up dat way ! " 

I sot up till mos' dis mornin' 
At dat church las' night ; 

Dat how come my eyes don't feel 
Wide awake en bright; 



At De Meetin'. 45 

But I sorry dat I let em 

Sliet deysel's up tight 
When I workin' heah fo' you — 

Kaze you treat me right ! 



46 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 



Mos' ob niggers sho believe 

Dat de preacher know 
All clat's fit ter study 'bout 

In dis worl' below ; 
Think he am so smart dat he 

Look beyon' de sky, 
Whar he read what am gwine be 

In de by en by. 

Fs a 'ception ter dat rule, 

Ez you sho will fin', 
En I come ter my conclusions 

Out ob my own min' : 
Preachers ain't no mo' conspired 

Dan is you en me ; 
Dat, i£ you des crack yo' eyes, 

You am sho gwine see. 




THE WOOD-SAWYER. 

" Oh, I work hard, sho, 

When de col' win' blow, 
Sawin' en splittin' de white folks' wood ! 

But I do'n' complain 

Ob de col' en de rain, 
Kaze de Lawd gwine sen" what He know am good. " 



A Philosopher. 47 

Eb'ry man what see a tex' 

In de trees en stones, 
Ain't bin called ter preach en raise 

,Life in dead, dry bones. 
Dat ole rooster scratchin' dar 

Am a sarmont, sho, 
But des kaze I read him rlo-ht, 

1 ain't called, you know. 

If you don't read it, you ain't 

Got de seein' eyes. 
En yo' heart cain't see dem things 

What would make you wise. 
Sho's de Bible done say dat 

Dem what works kin eat, 
Dat's a noble sarmont dar — 

One dat cain't be beat. 

When dat rooster scratch fo' worms 

In de lowly groun', 
He's a say in' we mus' work 

Fo' our bread, I'm boun' ; 
En when he fin' food, en call 

Till dat hen do run, 



48 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

He sho mean clat man mus' work 
Fo' de weakly one. 

He don't shet his knowledge up 

In a selfish min' ; 
AVhen he see de mornin' break 

He tell all mankin'. 
Do ter me all dis en mo', 

Dat same rooster teach, 
He don't say dat I's conspn-ed 

By de Lawd ter preach. 



Des De Same. 49 



2Dc^ SDc ^amc» 

My ole shanty am a falliii', 

En de rain am leakin' frue, 
En de rlieumatiz done grip me 
Till 1 don't know what ter do ; 
Bnt I thank God £0' dis frame, 
En I happy, des de same. 

I cain't go en jine de singin', 
Lak I did in ole-time days, 
At de Calvary Baptis' Church, 

Whar dey sing glad songs ob praise ; 
But my heart ain't sick en lame. 
En it singin', des de same. 

Mandy say de safe am empty — 
We ain't got no food ter-day ! 
Say she do' know whar we git it, 
'Thout an angel come dis way ; 
But I trus' in Jesus' name, 
En my soul feas', des de same. 



5o Darkey Ways in Dixie. 



J)0 2Dc ^un^l)inc J^tap- 

Tf de rooster crow, dey say, 

'Fo'e de clock strike ten, 
Atter he done gone ter roos' 

In de chicken pen, 
Den de weather sho gwine change 

'Fo'e dat time nex' day, 
En I don't care if it do — 

So de sunshine stay. 

How de rooster know if win' 

Am gwine res' or blow, 
Or if clouds gwine hoi' de rain, 

Or gwine let it po', 
I cain't tell, do 1 live heah 

Forty yeahs terday ; 
But I know my heart am glad 

If de sunshine stay. 



Daddy Long Legs. 51 



"Ole Dacldy Long Legs, 
Why am you so tall ? 
You look lak yo' head 

Gwine soon touch de wall ; 
En it take many stitches 
Ter sew up dem breeches." 

Ole Daddy Long Legs 

Make answer ter me : 
" De fines' fruit tifrow 
In de top ob de tree, 
En I's made tall ez dis 
So's de bes' I won't miss." 



52 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 



Oh, I had a happy time — 

Happy time las' night ! 
Staid inside dat meetin' house 

Till it mos' daylight. 
En I sho did sing en holler 

Till de people know 
Dat dis nigger got religion — 

Couldn't hoF no mo'. 

When I leave dat meetin' house — 

Leave at ha'f pas' two, 
I wuz gittin' hungry ez 

Shoutin' niggers do ; 
En des den I heah a rooster 

Gib a mighty crow ; 
" Don't he think he big ? " I say, 

" I o;wine fetch him low ! " 

Oh, I fetch him low ! En I 
Tote him home wid me, 



His Capacit}' Filled. 53 

En wid dumpliii's T done cook him 

Qnick ez dat kin be. 
Wid religion en dat chicken 

I am full up, sho, 
But I reckon when nig'ht come 

I kin hoF some mo' ! 



54 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 



^ht'$ €emptation. 

Ebry day dat come, I pass 

Wliar de waternnlyim grow 
In de Massa's milyiin patch, 

En dey is a sight, fo' sho. 
Dey des peeps frum out de leaves, 

Playin' hide en seek wid me ; 
En dey beg me come en ta'se 'em, 

Des ter see how good dey be ; 
But I sho does pass 'em by — 
Same's I don't know whar dey lie. 

I's a member ob de church, 

En you'll neber see me steal; 
I kin sho lian' out de cash 

Fo' my bacon en corn-meal. 
Dey will keep me des ez fat 

Ez I eber want ter be, 
En de luxuries ob life — 

Heah dem milyuns callin' me ! 



Ike's Temptation. 

Don't dey know dat I done say 
I ain't gwine take dem away ? 

One pb dem — he slio am big — 

Prettiest thing I eber seen — 
All arrayed, mo' bright dan lilies, 

In dem shades ob shinnin' green. 
He done creep frum out dem leaves 

Till he close ter dis low fence, 
En he beckon me ter take him — 

Think dat I ain't o-ot o^ood sense ! 
But dat coat ob him do shine. 
En I wish dat he wus mine. 

Wonder i£ he look ez nice 

On de inside ez de out ? 
Wonder if he's lak dem Christians 

What do nothin' else but shout ? 
Guess dat I could mighty soon 

Bu's' him on a rock, en see. 
If I had him on dis side 

Ob de ole rail-fence wid me. 
Dat I'll do ! If he's deceivin', 
Nothin' else ain't wuth believin' ! 



55 



56 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

He am mellow ter de co' ; 

Slio de heart ob him am right; 
Since 1 gone en bu's' him open, 

I mus' git him out ob sight. 
I would sin agin my conshuns 

If I let him go ter was'e 
When so many mouths is thirstin' 

Fo' de juice dey loves ter tas'e ; — 
Juice dat cheers de nigger's soul 
Mo' dan all dat's bought wid gol'. 

It wus goodj dat watermilyun, 

But I sho am git tin' sick ; 
Go en git de doctor, honey — 

Go en git him mighty quick ! 
'Twus a dirty trick, fo' cartin, 

What de Massa gone en done, 
Puttin' strychnine in dat milyun 

So's ter ketch de guilty one ; — 
But I ain't a rogue, he know — ■ 
I's a Christian, dat am sho ! 



Whar Dc Walcrmii} un Grow. 57 



I wus fetch up fur away 
Friim dis city whar 1 stay, 
In de Ian' ob shinin' day 

Whar de watermilyun grow. 

Oh, my boss heah treat me gran' ! 
But I sad, you understan', 
Lono'incr fo' de Dixie Ian' 
Whar de watermilyun groAV. 

Fiel's ob cotton beckon me. 
En de sweet magnoha tree. 
En my heart des cry ter be 
Whar de watermilyun grow. 

Oh, de South am des de place 
Fo' de thirsty cullud race ! 
En I long ter turn my face 
Whar de watermilyun grow. 



58 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

If cley try to 'tice you 'way, 
Don't you lis'n what dey say, 
Kaze de nigger bo'n ter stay 
Whar de watermilyun grow. 



What His Education Done. 59 



Wl)cit l^i^ €tiucation 2Done* 

What dat you say ? Sen' Zeke ter school 
Des k;ize he ain't bin ho'n a fool ? 
Now yon talkin' ! You ain't heerd 
'Bout George Washington T. Beard ? 
He wus smart, his ma tell me, 
En he I'arn his A, B, C, 
'Tliout no' difficult at all— 
Nat'ral ez de ripe fruit fall. 

En dat smartness grow on him 
Fas' ez leaves grow on de lim'. 
Till at las' de people say : 
" He mils' sholy go away 
Ter de coUeoe in de town ! " 
'Twus a great one, I am boun', 
Whar dey teach dat young man mo' 
Dan de mos' ob niggers know. 

When he reach ter gradiation, 
My ! Dey make a great 'miration ; 



6o Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

Ell (ley say : " Spite ob his race, 
Ell dat sliiniii', coal-black face, 
He g-wiiie make de people's eyes 
Open wide wid dey surprise ; 
Dat wus sho a good essay, 
What he read to' us ter-day." 

Ell dey say dem people chee'ed 
Dat Georae Washino-ton T. Beard ; 
Say he look en ac' ez gran' 
Ez de fines' in de Ian ; 
Bowin' dis en den dat way 
Wid a smile dat seem ter say : 
" I is ready now ter do 
Somethin' dat will 'stonish you." 

Den Avhat nex' ? He des come home- 
Wait dar fo' de chance ter come 
Ter git some big job, fo' true, 
Lak falutin' w hite folks do ; — 
Think he am too smart, you know, 
Ter use axe or spade or hoe ; 
Or ter do work, ban' ter ban', 
Wid de ignorant cullud man. 



What His Education Done. 6i 

Dar he set en dar he wait, 
RaiUn' 'gin de nigger's fate, 
Sayin' dat de worl' am hard, 
When we all know dat de Lawd 
Make it easier, fo' sho', 
AVhen de man nse what he l^now ; 
When he don't des set en wait, 
Railin' allers 'gin his fate. 

Ez you say, dat Zeke ob mine 
Got a min' dat sho could shine, 
En dem han's ob his kin do 
Mos' ez much ez mine, fo' true. 
He won't neber lack fo' bread 
AVid dem han's en wid dat head ; 
En I don't sen' him ter school 
AVhar he I'arn ter be a fool. 



62 Darkey Ways iii Dixie. 



People tell de news las' week 
Dat a cullud man gwine speak 

At de college hall ; 
Say he try ter lif ' his race 
Ter a high en shinin' place 

On dis 'restial ball. 

En dey say dat cidlud man 
Doin' Avork dat sho am gran' 

In dis worl' below; 
Say he gib his life, fo' true, 
So de nigger be en do 

Better dan befo'. 

He done 'stablish a fine school, 
Whar, dey say, he 'force dis rule : 

Train de man all roun' ; 
Let de ban's dey duty know ; 
Let de min' wake up en grow ; 

Let de heart be soun'. 



Booker T. Washington. 63 

Dat gveiit scliool am situate 
Down in Alabamy state, 

In (lis Dixie Ian' ; 
En folks nortli en eas' en wes', 
When dey heah it do its hes', 

Len' a he'pin' han\ 

Mr. Washington come down 
Las' week ter dis very town, 

Ez I spec' you know ; 
En when I went ter dat hall 
Des ter heah him speak, en all, 

I wus 'sprised, f o' sho ; 

'Sprised ter see dat cullud man 
On de platform, dress up gran', 

Wid de bes' white men ; 
En if he don't speak dat day 
Words ez good ez dey kin say — 

Den my name ain't Ben ! 

Oh, I wish dat I could tell 
What he say ! It make me swell 

All up fat wid pride ; 
En I say : "I sho gwine shake 



64 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

His risrht liaii' fo' dem words' sake, 
When we git outside." 

When he finish en set down, 
I go outside en walk roun' 

Till his face I see ; 
Den I say, sho ez I bo'n : 
" Howdy, Mr. Washington ! 

Won't you speak ter me ? " 

En he shake my han' de way 
Dat men do when dey hearts say : 

" Glad ter see yo' face ! " 
En I tell him ; " 'Fo'e you go 
I mus' say, you make me, sho. 

Proud ob de black race." 



Crazy Joe's Ambition. 65 



Cra?p 9oc'^ 9lm6ition» 

Crazy Joe, lie make me laugh 

When he talk dat way 
'Bout cle mansion on de hill 
Whar de gov'nor stay ; 
When he vow dat he 
Sho ez life gwine be 
Walkm' on dem flo's some day. 

He ain't wise on politics, 

En we tell him so, 
En we say : " Nobody vote 
Fo' you, Crazy Joe ! " 
But he say dat he 
Sometime sho gwine be 
Walkin' on dat mansion flo'. 

His vote he'p de white man git 

Ter dat place, he say. 
En he waitin' fo' de state 
5 



66 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

Ter do right, en pay 

Him wid dis job soon : 
Wasliin' de spittoon 
What dey vise dar ebry day ! 



Grinnin' Jake. 67 



Neber seen a feller grin 

Lak dat nigger do ; 
When yon as' him anything 

He des look at you ; — 
Neber answer what you say — 
Grin en grin dat stupid way. 

When somebody what don't know 
As' him what he name, 

He hang down dat head ob his 
Ez do' he ashame ; 

En he show dem teeth ob white 

Lak dey speak fo' him all right. 

'' Is de cat done got yo' tongue ? " 

Mammy as' him once, 
" Or is you des bo'n to be 

A dum', stupid dunce ? " 
But he hang dat head en grin, 
Silly ez he allers bin. 



68 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

I mos' b'lieve dat when he git 

Up ter heaven's gate, 
If de angels as' him why 

He stan' dar en wait, 
He won't say : " Please let me in,^ 
But des grin en grin en grin ! 




Unnnin jake. 



Elmiry Vaccinated. 69 



oEImirp IDaccinatcD. 

When de vaccinater come, 
My Elmiry run frum home 

Fas' ez she could go ; 
Run away ter Missus' house, 
Whar she slip in lak a mouse, 

So de Miss won't know. 

En she scramble liin' de head 
Ob de Missus' high pos' bed, 

Des ter hide erwhile ; 
En de Missus come en q-q 
Frue dat room, but she don't know 

'Bout dat silly chile. 

By en by, when she come frue, 
She heah somethin' breave, she do, 

Lak somebody 'sleep ; 
En her heart stan' still dat day, 
En she am too sca'ed, she say, 

Des to take a peep. 



70 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

So she run out-do's en call ; 

" Sen' de pleeceman (heah me all ! ) 

Right now ter my house ; 
Dar's a robber 'hin' my bed, 
Waitin' till de day be dead, 

Quiet ez a mouse." 

En de news dem people spread 
'Bout de robber 'hiii' de bed, 

Waitin' till day done ; 
En de pleeceman sho did race, 
So he reach dat hidin' place, 

'Fo'e de robber run. 

But when he git dar en see 
Dat chile sleepin' quiet, he 

Des frow back his head, 
En he laugh en laugh en say : 
" Come in, Missus, right away ! 

Whodis'hin'yo'bed?" 

Dey take hoi' ob her en shake 
Dat Ehniry till she wake 

'Nough ter rub her eyes ; 
When she open dem en see 



Elmiry Vaccinated. 71 

Who dat man am — goodness me ! — 
She am sho surprise'. 

" Please, Mister Pleeceman," den she 

say, 
" I'll be vaccernate' dis day 

If you let me go ! " 
But he say dat des a tale, 
En he take her ter de jail 

'Fo'e her mammy know. 

Take her ter be vaccernate. 
En she grunt now, soon en late, 

Wid dat arm dat's so'. 
'Tain't no use ter run frum home 
When de vaccernater come ; — 

He gwine git you, sho. 



72 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 



Des cartin ez dey is a way 
Ter miss doiii what am right, 

Dat boy gwiiie allers fin' it out 
What work fo' Mistah White. 

Las' yeah dey had him drive 'em all 
Out ter de ole school groun', 

Whar all de white folks congregate 
Frum miles en miles er-roun'. 

En Mistah AVhite, when dey git dar, 
Say : ^' Simon, now you min', 

En put dis ice we got heah, in 
De cooles' place you fin'." 

En when dey all go in ter heah 
De chillun speak en sing, 

Dat boy — he go en drap dat ice 
Right in de bubblin' spring ! 



An Obstacle Overcome. 73 



Dat Tom, he allers want ter know 
All 'bout de things he see ; 

I neber could remember ha'f 
Ob what he done as' me. 

He see dem posts down by de road, 

Wid wires stretch ercrost, 
En ast me why dem wires wus 

Hung dar from post ter post. 

I tell him den, de bes' I kin, 

Dat dey wus made to sen' 
De news ercrost, so men kin heah 

Frum dey fur absent frien'. 

He stan' en gaze en gaze on dem 

In his onquirin' way ; 
Den : " How de news git roun dem 
posts?" 

Dat stupid nigger say. 



74 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

He sho ain't got de sense ter know 
(De good f o' nothin' scamp ! ) 

Dat des ter meet dat obstickle 
We got de postage stamp. 




"How de News git roun' dem posts?" 



Two of a Kind. 75 



€too of a Iiinti. 

SiME say he don't know what ter do wid 

dat nude 
Dat he done gone en bought (he vvus sholy 
a fooU ) 

At de sale in de town ; 
He say it so stubborn dat when he say 

gee, 
It allers gwine " liaw," ez sho ez kin be, 
En I's glad, I am boun'. 

He say when he want it ter stan' it gwine 

walk ; — 
When he want it ter go, it am sholy gwine 
balk, 

Lak a dunce all de time. 
He say dey ain't neber bin bo'n sich a fool, 
But I know, I sho do, dat pesky ole mule 
Ain't ez stubborn ez Sime. 



76 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

He iieber gwine do what I tell him am 

right, 
Do he know I wus bo'n wid a caul on my 
sight, 

En kin see what am bes' ; 
I tol' him ter stay frum dat sale in de town. 
But somethin' des draw him ez blood do de 
houn'. 

Till he foller de res'. 

I sho knew dat day what dat man wus 

erbout 
When I seen him a-takin' de las' money out 

Ob de cup on de she'f ; 
En I glad he done spent ebry cent on dat 

mule, 
En's got ter work now wid dat pesky ole 
fool, 

Kaze he's stubborn hisse'f. 



Quarantined. 77 



Who am sca'ed ob small-pox ? Pshaw ! 

Not dis nigg'er, slio. 
Las' yeah dar wiis lots ob it 
Down in Spilman's row ; 

En de pleeceman walk erbout, 
Keepin' some in en some out. 

En T ask : " What dey gwine do 

Fo' 'nough food to eat? " 

En Sime answer : " Ez fo' dat, 

Small-pox cain't be beat ; 

Kaze when it done shet yo' gate, 
Den de town gwine fill yo' plate." 

He say dem dat's quarantined 

Down in Spilman's row, 
Gittin' better things ter eat 

Dan we am, f o' sho ; 



78 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

Say lie see 'em take some food 
Back dar dat wiis mighty good. 

Den I mill' me ob my frien's, 

How dey lonesome be, 
En I say : '^ I cain't fo'get 'em — 
Dey am deali ter me ! " 
En dey voices call en call, 
Till I heali dem ober all. 

'T last I say dat I iiius' go 

If I am dey frien' ; — 
While de guard walk up dat wav, 
I slip in (Hh en' ; — 

En in Spilman's row I stay 
Till de small-pox pass erway. 

I don't ketch it — no, suhree ! 

Neber git de chance ; 
Zeke wus down dar wid his fiddle, 
En I jine de dance ; — 
En de city furnish food 
Dat, fo' sho, tas'e mighty good. 



A Puzzling Clause. 79 



a ^u;;ling Clause. 

Oh, de preacher done fine 
When I marry Em'line, 

But what did he mean, I wonder, 
When he stan dar en' say : 
" I done jine you ter-day ; 

Let nohody put you ter thunder ! " 



8o Darkey Ways in Dixie. 



I ain't neber work, not me ! 
Fo' de white trash. Kaze, you see, 
I wiis fetch up mighty gran' 
By de bes' folks in de Ian' ; — 
En dey teach me how ter do> 
Work fo' ladies rich ez you, 
'Fo'e de wah. 

'' Who fetch me up ? " Now, Missus, sho 
I done tol' you dat befo' ! 
Why a Miss wid heart ez true 
Ez wus eber knowed by you ; 
En a face dat shine ez bright 
Ez dem days so full ob light, 
'Fo'e de wah. 

When I sick in dem ole days, 
Missus don't des go her ways, 
Leabin' me ter cry en groan 



To'e de Wah. 8i 

In dat cabin all alone ; 

Wid her ban's sbe wait on me 

Till I well ez 1 kin be, 

'Fo'e de wall. 

When de fns' sweet baby come, 
Blessin' my deali Missus' home, 
'Twarn't nobody else bnt me 
Dressed it nice ez it conld be 
In a dress ob spotless white, 
(Shinin' lak de robes ob light ! ) 
'Fo'e de wah. 

En when angels, by en by, 
Call dat darlin' ter de sky, 
'Twus me robe it in its bes', 
Ez I say : " Now, sleep en res'." 
Den de house wus sad erwhile 
Kaze we lose our only chile, — 
'Fo'e de wah. 

God won't hab dem arms ob Miss 
Empty ob de manmiy's bliss, 
En he fill em up wid joy — 
Now a gal, en den a boy ; 



82 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

En deysel's dem cliillun twine 
Roun' dis happy heart ob mine, 
'Fo'e de Avah. 

When dat jolly nigger, Ned, 
Take de notion in his head 
Dat he want ter marry me, 
Missus say : "Well, we will see ; " 
En she buy him fo' her slave 
(He bin long time in his grave ! ) 
'Fo'e de wall. 

Buy him fo' her slave, you see. 
So dat he kin live wid me 
In de hvit whar de sweet vine 
Ob de yellow jes'mine twine ; 
Whar de mockin'-bird all day 
Sing kaze we wus glad en gay, 
'Fo'e de wah. 

Den dem Yankees come, you know, 
En dey beat de South, fo' sho ; 
Missus tell us : " You is free ! 
You don't b'long no mo' ter me." 
But us niggers up en say : 



To'e de Wah. 83 

" We gwine stay right whar we stay 
'Fo'e de wah ! " 

Ell Ave stay. We didn't go 
Ter de North lak some I know. 
Dey sho thought dat dey gwine be 
Rich up dar ez dey wus free ; 
But dey soon come hack agin 
Ter de Ian' whar dey had bin 
'Fo'e de wah. 

Missus die.— Please 'scuse dese teahs; 
I mus' cry, spite ob de yeahs, 
When I min' me ob dat day 
Dat dey laid her deep away 
By de willow bendin' low, — 
One she planted lono- hq-q 
'Fo'e de wah. 

Den dey scatter, all de res', 
Some ter eas', en some to wes' ; 
One done jine de Miss on high 
In de mansions ob de sky ; 
Dem dat's libin' write ter me 
Ob de times dat used ter be 
'Fo'e de wah. 



84 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

En dey sen's some change erlong, 
Callino- it '' but cles a song" ; " 
But it free dis nio-o-er, sho, 
Frum a lot ob care en woe ; 
En it make me dream dat I 
Libin in dem days gone by 
'Fo'e de wah. 

I is gittin weak en ole, 
En I know dat soon my soul 
Sho gwine heah de angels come, 
Singin', singin', " Home, sweet home I " 
En up dar my eyes gwme see 
All de white folks deah to me 
'Fo'e de wah. 



Ground Hog Day. 85 



What de use ter 00 ag:in 

What de groun' hog say, 
Little bud, dat done unfoF 

'Fo'e Spring come dis way? 
'Tis a shame fo' dat sunshine 

Ter be foolin' you, 
AVhen mo' fros' am prophesied 

By de prophet true : 

If de sun am shinin' bright, 

He turn right away 
Back into dat cozy bed, 

Whar till spring he stay. 
But if clouds am in de sky, 

Den he know, fo' sho, 
Dat de winter am done pass 

Ter return no mo'. 

Yestiday, when he creep out 
Frum his winter den, 



86 Darkey Wa3^s in Dixie. 

He des turn his se'f erbont, 

En went in agin. 
He ain't easy ter deceive 

By warm sun en breeze, 
Kaze lie got a way ter know 

If dey'll be a freeze. 

Wish de sunshine wouldn't 'vite 

Flowers ter unfol', 
When de prophet prophesy 

Dar gwine be mo' col' ; 
Wish de little buds could know 

AVhat de groun' hog say, 
En would stay shet, close en tight, 

Till Spring come ter stay. 



Excusable. '6'j 



« 

Why you go en fight dat boy ? 

Don't you know he white ? 
Bet de pleeceman come en git you 
'Fo'e you sleep dis night ! 

Don't you heah yo' mammy say, 
Why you knock him down dat way ? 

Called you nigger ? " Did he, sho ? 

Den you done des right ! 
Eb'ry time de po' white buckra 
Call you dat, you fight ! 
If you am one, I am sho 
'Taint dey place ter tell you so 1 



88 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 



S^eff'^ funeral Sermon. 

Git my mou'niu' dress, Susanah, 

Out de bottom draw' ; — 
It bin waitiii' long time wid 
Dis black hat ob straw, 

Fo' de preacher ter come by 
En preach Jeff up ter de sky. 

Jeff done pass away befo' us 

Des six months ter-day ; 
But it don't seem long ez dat 
(How time pass away !) 

Since dey laid dat po' boy down 
In de churchyard's holy groun'. 

Yestiday when I ast Missus 

Let me go ter-day 
Ter Jeff's fun'ral, she so s'prised 

Till she up en say : 



Jeff's Funeral Sermon. 89 

'' Sakes ! dey bury him, you know, 
Las' yeah, long en long ago ! " 

En 1 tell her dat de people 

Libin fur frum home, 
Couldn't heah dat he avus gone, 
En dey want ter come; 

So we wait till news wais spread 
Ebrywhar dat he wus dead. 

En we 'vite so many people 

Frum de country roun', 
Dat dar'll be a sight ob niggers 
At dat church, I'm boun' ; 
So we better be gwine on, 
Kaze we set wid dem dat mou'n. 



90 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 



Bndt 25o6 to i^i^ 2Dog* 

Uncle Bob say ter his dog, Leo : 

" You tangle yo'se'f in my heart-strings, sho, 

But de day gwine come when you got ter go, 

Kaze I ain't got a dollar 

Ter buy you a collar, 
En de dog-ketcher ketch you, sho." 

Uncle Bob say : " I dervide my bread, 
En I Mver you up in my nice, straw bed, 
But I sca'ed dat my dog gwine soon be dead, 

Kaze I ain't got a dollar 

Ter buy you a collar, 
En de dog-ketcher ketch you, sho." 

Uncle Bob say : " Oh, de stolen am sweet, 
En dat why you dim' frue de fence ter de 
street. 



Uncle Eph to His Dog. 91 

Do I already tol' you de en' you gwine meet ! 

Kaze I ain't got a dollar 

Ter buy you a collar, 
En de dog-ketcher ketch you, sho." 



92 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 



Sho ez dat dar sun on high 

Shine on me ter-day, 
Dar gwine be a riber-rise, 

Lis'n what I say ! 
'Fo'e de summer am done pas' 

Dat dar Congaree 
Am gwine over-tiow dein banks, 

Rushin' ter de sea. 

1 does closely watch de signs, 

En de wasp, fo' true, 
Buiklin' higher up (lis yeah 

Dan she mos'ly do. 
By dat nes', so safe en high. 

She done say ter me ; 
" Dar gwine be a rise dis yeah 

Ob de Congaree." 



Possum en Pertaters. 93 



De pe'simmons in cle pastur' am a-fallin', 

fallin' down, 
En de sweet pertaters waitin' ter be dug frum 
out de groun' ; 
Dat dey good de possum know, 
En he fatten on 'em, sho ! 
En I tas'e his juice ter-morrer, else I neber 
tas'e it mo'. 

Bring de light-wood torch, Horiah, en don't 

creep so slow erlong ; 
Lif ' yo' lazy feet up faster, so dey keep time 
ter dis song : 
" Mr. Possum, heah me say, 
'Tain't no use ter run away, 
Kaze I sho gwine ketch en bleed you 'fo'e 
de breakin' ob de day ! 

Dem two dogs already trace him ter de big 
pe'simmon tree, 



94 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

En I see dem eyes ob his'ii shinin' down lak 
stars at me. 
He for sho am perch up high, 
But I git hhn, by en by, 
En dat feas' I hab to-morrer beat de fines' 
chicken pie. 

I done grab him by de neck, en I comin' 

down agin, 
En de weight ob him do tell me he am fur 
frum bein' thin ; 
En he droop hisse'f en play 
Dat he dead en pass away. 
Do he know dat if I loose him he gwine 
mighty soon be gay. 

He am sho a fine one, en I proud ter take 

him home. 
En de mammy en de chillun wake ter see 
him when he come ; 
En I sino-e his tender hide 
Till it look lak it done fried. 
Den I try ter go ter sleep, but my eyes stay 
open wide. 



Possum en Pertaters. 95 

Oh, my eyes stay oj)en wide, till de brealdn' 

ob de day, 
A\ hen de long, long- night ob waitin' am at 
las' done pass away ; 
En I 2:0 outside en scratch 
Sweet pertaters friini de patch, 
Kaze wid juices ob de possum dey ain't 
nothin' else ter match. 

When we bake dat critter brown, wid per- 
taters stuff inside. 
Den we say : " Oh, hasten, nigger, ez de 
bridegroom ter de bride ! " 
Come en dine wid us ter-day. 
En we know dat you gwine stay 
Till de las ob dat good possum am done hid 
frum sight away. 



96 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 



Cotton'^ aromin' ^n. 

Bet de goldenrod's a-bloomin 

'Long de country roads ; 
Bet de hick'ry nuts am fallin 

By de loads en loads. 
Bet pe'simmons am mos' ripe — 

Makes a feller grin ! 
What's de sign ? Why, man alive, 

Cotton's comin' in ! 

Bet ole Pete am busy now 

Bilin' sorghum down; 
Bet dey'll hab a pullin' soon — 

'Vite me frum de town ; 
Bet de apple's dry in' on 

Chiny plates en tin, 
Bet all dis, en mo', des kaze 

Cotton's comin' in. 

Bet de rice am hangin' now 
Head down in de sun ; 



Cotton's Comin' In. 97 

Bet ole Massa's habin' times 

Wid his rod en gun ; 
Wish I'd staid dar in de woods — 

. Town's chuck full ob sin, 
En I sho mt homesick when 

Cotton's comin' in. 

Bet de pinders spread out on 

De ole shed ter dry ; 
Bet de possum know de way 

Ter de tree-top high. 
Soon dem darkies put away 

'Taters in de bin ; — 
Lan' ! I's o^wine back when Pete 

Brino's his cotton in ! 



98 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 



SDat gallct 45ah 

I BIN watchin' you, big Jim, 

En I s'prised, fo' sho ; 
You is done fo'git mos' all 

Dat you eber know. 
Dar you wus, at de cake-walk, 

Makin' eyes at Sue, 
When you orter know dat gal 

Ain't gwine look at you. 

Yo' hair curl on top yo' head 

Lak sheep's wool, fo' sho. 
En yo' skin am des ez black 

Ez de blackes' crow. 
Ebry time you pass dat gal 

She stick up her nose. 
En draw back, des lak she sca'ed 

You gwine touch her clo'es. 

Think she am too good ter speak 
Ter a coal-black man 



Dat Yaller Gal. 99 

What^ ez ebrybody know, 

Do de bes' he kin, 
Kaze her skin ain't black lak yourn, 

En her hair ain't wool, 
She ac' lak she am de queen — 

Sick'nin' yaller fool ! 

Ebry day she com' dat hair 

Lak de white folks do ; 
Pin it back wid fine hair-pins, 

Shinin lak bran' new ; 
En she go erlong de street 

Holding- her head high, 
Lak she neber see her race 

When dey pass her by. 

Us dat am de niofgrers riofht — 

Us don't ac' lak dat ! 
When we com' our hair we make 

Heah en dar a plait ; 
En we wrap 'em good wid cord 

So dey sho gwine stay 

Right in place a week or mo' 

Frum de com'in' day. 
LofC. ^ 



100 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

En we don't pass cullud folks 

Wid our head up high, 
But we stop en speak wid dem 

'Fo'e we pass on by. 
En we as' 'em : " How you do ? 

How's de folks at home ? " 
En we tell 'em whar we live, 

Sayin' " You mus' come." 

I's bin watchin' you, big Jim, 

En I's s'prised, fo' sho ; 
Ez I sed, you is fo'got 

All you eber know. 
If you's got good sense you'll quit 

Makin' eyes at Sue, 
Kaze dat stuck-up yaller gal 

Ain't gwine look at you. 



To Walk Wid His Gal. loi 



€o ^alft Wih i^i^ ^al. 

Dem gals stall' erbout, en giggle en grin ; 
Dey say : " His shoes shine' lak a bran' new 

pin ! " 
En de way dat dey treat him am sholy a 

sin, 
When John go ter walk wid his gal. 



Dey laugh at his hat en dey laugh at his 

tie, 
En dey say : " Will you 'low us ter see you 

go by ? " 
En sho wid sich nonsinse dat nigger dey try, 
When John go ter walk wid his gal. 

" Oh, shet up ! " I tell 'em, " en dat right 
away, — 



102 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

I know what's de matter, now heah what I 

say; 
You's ebry one jealous, you sho is, ter-day, 
Kaze John gone ter walk wid his gal ! " 



*• Cunjud." 103 



Frow fish salt out on de grass 
Ebrywhar dat man done pass, 

En be quick ; 
Scatter it all roun' de do', 
Else somebody heah, fo' slio, 

Gwine be sick. 

He done cunjur' me, you know, 
One time long en long ago, 

'Fo'e you bo'n ; 
En it ain't fo' good ter-day 
Dat he stop by heah dat way, 

Den pass on. 

Dat de way he done befo', 
En wid fever laid me low 

In de bed. 
Go en spread de salt all roun' 
'Fo'e we bofe am lyin' down, 

Sick or dead* 



104 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 



Untit 25en'^ Superstition* 

Oh, please, Missus, don't as' dat ! 

Is you neber heah it sed 
Him dat plants a holly tree 

Slio gwine lie down, stiff en dead, 
Soon's dat tree grow big en high 
'Nougli ter shade him whar he lie? 

I ain't sca'ed ob death, not me ! 

I's bin baptized in de creek, 
En in big experience meetin's 
I does rise sometimes ter speak ; 
But I don't tempt Providence ; — 
'Tis a act ob wickedness. 

" How ter git it planted, den ? " 

Ain't got time, yo'se'f, you say ? 
Lis'n, mum, en I will tell you 
What's, fo' true, de only way, 
'Th'out you hab somebody die 
Soon's dat tree grow big en high : 



Uncle Ben's Superstition. 105 

Put a seed somewhar out do's, 
So de win' will blow it down 
Des whar you would hab it planted, 
On a nice, sof bit ob groun'. 
Dar it will take root en grow ; 
I is tried it, en I know. 

But ter put de seed in groun', 

Or ter plant dar de young tree. 
Am slio temptin' Providence — 
En it ain't bin done by me ; 
Dat am how I'm heah ter-day 
Ter teach ole Missus de right way. 



io6 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 



AVhen I hab ter go ter bed, 
1 slio civer up my head, 
Kaze I allers mighty sca'ed 

Dat de witches come at night. 

Dey does come sometimes, you know, 
En wid dem you got ter go, 
Ridin' fas' or ridin' slow, 

When dey come fo' you at night. 

I does try my bes' ter shriek, 
But my voice git low en weak, 
En I shake so I cain't speak 

When de witches come at night. 

Oh, dey tote you up so high 
Till you neahly touch de sky. 
En you sca'ed mos' 'nough ter die 

AMien you ride wid dem at night, 



Wid de Witches. 107 

" You des dream dat/' Missus say, 
But she don't fool rue ter-day ! 
I done hin too fur away 

Wid dem witches des las' night. 



io8 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 



% Mm\t^$ spirit. 

" Don't b'Feve in liants ? " Well, dat des 

show 
Dat you cartin neber know 

'Bout dat big house on de hill, 
Whar a sperit walk at night 
When de dark done quench de light, 

En de worl' am calm en still. 

" Who lib dar ? " A\ ell, gracious me ! 
You won't as' dat when you see 

Dat ghos' walkin' roun' de place ; 
Ghos' dat allers kneels en prays 
Under dem magnolia trees, 

Wid a sad en longin' face. 

Once, dey say, a sweet bride come 
Frum her fur-off northern home, 

Ter dis Ian' ob flow'rs en song ; 
En she love de birds en bees 



A Restless Spirit. 109 

Hummin' 'rouii' dem fragrant trees, 
En wus happy all day long. 

Dar she go mos' ehry day 
When de noon-sun shme dat way, 

Waitin' fo' her man ter come ; 
En when evenin' light groAV dim 
Dar she 2:0 ter watch fo' him 

Ter come back ter dat glad home. 

En dey walk dar, des dem tw^o, 
When de stars am peepin' frue 

Leaves ob dem magnolia trees ; 
En dey bofe am glad ob heart 
Des kaze dey don't walk apart, 

En am kiss by dat same breeze. 

When one day dat man come home, 
He don't see his young wife come 

Out ter meet him on de lawn , 
She took sick, de people say. 
En her spirit pass away 

'Fo'e de little baby bo'n. 

Den her mammy write en say : 
" Fetch en bury her, we pray, 



no Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

By her sisters heah at home." 
So she lie clar in de col', 
Whar de win's am strong en boF, 

Waitin' fo' de kingdom come. 

But her sperit walk at night, 
When de dark done quench de light, 

Under dem magnolia trees ; 
En she stop dar en kneel down 
Wid her white dress floatin' roun' 

In de gentle, sighin' breeze. 

Oh, my heart ache in my breas' 
Fo' dat sperit cravin' res' ! 

En I know it would fin' ease 
If dey bring dem bones some day 
Ter de south, en let 'em lay 

Under dem magnolia trees. 




" On de Chain Gang." 



Pardoned. 1 1 1 



Ike wus workiii' on de chain gang 

Ebry day till set ob sun, 
Kaze he bin took up fo' somethin' 

Dat he neber orter done. 

En he ketch de quick consumption 
Workin' in de coF en rain, 

En he say if dey des free him 
He won't do so bad agin. 

Den his white frien's write a letter 
Dat dey as' us all ter sign, 

Say in' : " Ike am weak en sickly, 
En he mus' be treated kin'." 

Sayin' : " He cain't lib much longer, 
En we hope you let him come 

Back ter dem dat am his people, 
So he pass away at home." 



112 Darkey Ways in Dixie. 

En we des keep waitin', waitin'. 

Till a letter come at las', 
Sayin' dat de gov'nor glad 

He kin oi'ant us what we as'. 

When we carry Ike dat message, 
Hq don't lieah us what we say, 

Kaze de Lawd done come en call him, 
En his soul done pass away. 




APR 4 - I9f 



'R 4 1902 







'J^B LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 1 

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